AYURVEDA TRADITIONAL INDIAN HERBAL MEDICINE ancient science of life

Ayurveda

Ayurveda traditional Indian herbal medicine, healing system of India and ancient science of life.

Ayurvedic Body types

7 different body types, which one are you?

Ayurvedic Diet

What and when to eat for which body type

Ayurvedic Cleansing regimens (Panchakarma)

Not for the faint hearted. Only do these cleanses with a qualified practitioner.

Introduction to Indian Philosophy

Indian philosophy can be divided into two categories – the orthodox and the heterodox.

The heterodox category or non-Vedic comprises the philosophical schools of the Jains and the Buddhists all of whom reject the Vedas as authority.

The orthodox or Vedic category is comprised of six “schools” which are no longer existent as distinct schools but have all merged under the rubric of “Yoga-Vedanta”. They all nominally accept the Vedas as the highest authority even though sometimes radically deviating from them.

Sankhya is the oldest school of Indian Philosophy and the foundation for all the others.

Introduction to Ayurveda

In very short Ayurveda is the science of life, it is teaching us the art of living well in harmony with the physical, mental and spiritual world. According to Vagbhata, one of the ancient authors, who wrote the Ashtanga-hrdayam roughly 900 years ago, ‘Brahman recollected ayurveda’. His books are the most popular comprehensive guide used today. Other famous authors are Charaka, who wrote the first complete Ayurvedic work (Charaka Samhita), focusing on Ayurvedic therapies, compiled in the form of discussions between the teacher, Atreaya and his six disciples in over ten thousand versus. As well as Sushruta, the father of surgery, who wrote the Sushruta Samhita an outstanding piece of work that describes many medical procedures used today.

From birth until death each of us possess an individual biological blueprint, termed our prakrti in Ayurveda. The specific predominance of elements composing our being since birth determines our unique psycho-physiological tendencies. To know our body type creates an awareness of our fundamental nature, initiating an inward journey of self-discovery and acceptance. This wisdom guides us to understand the most suitable daily routine, nutrition, colors, essential oils, herbs and other therapeutic substances needed to bring us to a state of optimum health and harmony.

There are 7 different body types in Ayurveda which compose out of the 3 doshas : Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We all have all 3 doshas in us, but usually have a predominance of two doshas. In a healthy state the doshas support life and when unbalanced create ill health. This is a major principle of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda has branched into eight major departments including Surgery, Psychology, Toxicology, Geriatrics, Infertility, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics and general medicine.

The connection between Ayurveda and Spirituality

Sankhya explains the whole evolution of our physical, mental and spiritual states. Out of those all suffering can be explained. This gives us the tools to backtrack to our original source where there is no suffering. It explains how from our emotion we create karma which results in rebirth and repeated subjection to suffering, but that we can choose to break this cycle.

The philosophic texts can be used as a diagnostic tool.
Yoga for example gives us practical steps on how toe ease the burden on our physical and spiritual live.

In Vaisheshika there is no academic speculation about the origin of things – the sole interest in this system is to analyze and synthesize the world of experience and to attempt to explain rationally the true nature of material things.

Mimamsa give us codes of law and duty, which include social laws and personal duties.

Nyaya is the science of logic which explains the chain of consequences which need to be broken in order to attain happiness.
The Vedanta proposes that enlightenment can bring an end to suffering in this life and that there is no need to postpone bliss to some later stage. It teaches right discrimination, right dispassion, right conduct and right aspiration.

If the spirit and mind are healthy and happy our body will follow.

This is the reason why yoga succeeds while other fitness programs fall over their heads because yoga leads to the simultaneous development of the body and mind creating a perfect harmony as you proceed. Bring yoga into your daily life and you’ll notice the difference. Click here to read how.